1. I’m just going to type this now and get it out: A couple of my seniors (not all of them, but the few who stand out because they constantly whine about every thing I ask them to do) are very lazy, and it really annoys me when they refuse to think for themselves.

    Okay now I feel better! :)

  2. We have a minimum day schedule today and tomorrow, and they’re always the craziest for me. Especially for tomorrow.

    We have all 3 classes consecutively with no break in between, and I teach in 3 different room, so I have to roll my cart (with papers, projects, etc) to each room. And then pressure the regular teacher to quickly log off her computer so I can log on and do roll, etc.

    And I still end up spending 3-4 hours grading afterwards. (This is to avoid taking any grading home.)

    Omg, let’s get this over with!

  3. I want to…but at the same time, I kind of don’t.

    There are a couple job openings for art teachers in districts near me…really good districts too (in terms of student performance/API fun). (Doesn’t mean I’d get the job of course, because I went to a couple interviews last summer and wasn’t hired.) The districts seem pretty appealing however.

    I didn’t get pink-slipped from my current position, so I will be returning next year, which is great of course. I don’t know what school(s) I’ll be at however, since I’m split at two schools right now.

    I’m tempted to apply for these positions but part of me doesn’t want to because I don’t want to burn bridges with my current district (they assume I’ll be returning next year). Plus after completing my 2nd year, I could get tenure and I will be able to clear my teaching credential with the state.

    AND, there’s the whole “I need to revamp my resume/cover letter”, prep for interviews, and I’m just too busy for that right now since I have to write lessons, make examples, etc. It sounds like a big excuse and maybe it is.

    AND I feel like where I am at the moment as a teacher is good because I have this school year to reflect on for when I plan/improve lessons for the next year (which I’ll definitely be doing this summer).

    I don’t know what’s the best decision, but if it comes down to mental energy and what I should be focusing on, it should be about my current teaching.

  4. I teach in 2 different high schools in 5 different classrooms. Only one classroom is “mine” in that my class is the only class that uses it.

    I’m trying to focus on the *positive* aspects of being in 2 different schools, but I end up focusing on the *negative* aspects, such as:

    -I have a hard time keeping track of all my students…some constantly forget to turn in their projects, some should be coming to Tutorial (time before school to make up work) and the principal suggested that I call the parents to tell them that their child needs to attend, and if I eventually get that student to come, I have to call the parent DURING Tutorial to confirm if their child indeed showed up. (Uh…what about the parents that leave early in the morning for work?) I could be doing this for 10 students, but I do not want to waste my Tutorial period calling parents.

    -I have to keep all of my copies/lesson plans/project examples portable and in folders.

    -3 of my classes have different clean-up procedures, since the layout of the rooms are different AND I’m following the procedure the “regular” teacher uses in their room.

    -All 5 classes have different classroom management issues, whether it is chattyness, students being out of their seats, cellphones, etc.

    -I have a hard time keeping track of whose cell phone I’ve taken away for the day (for each infraction, the consequence gets worse).

    -At school, I have no break between my 5th and 6th period…so I have to always pack up about 5 minutes before the bell so I’m ready to move to the next room. Which means the last 5 minutes of class is usually wasted.

    -My lunches are always cut short by 5-10 minutes so I can set up in the next room.

    Now, the *positive* aspects:

    -I get to work with and meet a variety of staff at both schools. I’ve attended staff meetings and professional developments at both schools, and there are differences in how administration runs them.

    -I get to work with a variety of students in both schools (one school is…a little more affluent than the other).

    -I’m teaching the same lessons at both schools.

    -At one school, the administration is buying the supplies for me (since I was hired literally 1 week before school began).

    -At another school, the “regular” teacher is handling all the ceramic firing for me.

    -I have a classroom ALL to myself during my prep period.

    -I get to learn about various lesson plans and see how other teachers set up their classrooms.

    -I teach a variety of subject matter…2D and 3D art. 

    -If something doesn’t work at one school on one day, I can alter it for the next day.

  5. »  Introverted Kids Need to Learn to Speak Up at School

    yourfellowclassmate:

    I think this is interesting because 1. I’m an introvert  2. I’m an introvert whose chosen career path is to teach, which despite being introverted I’ve been told I excel as an instructor. With that said, I always have a group of introverts in my classes. And ever quarter I expect them to talk during discussions, even though I know the anxiety that goes along with that. It’s almost unfair. 

    I’m an introvert too and I can easily recognize introvert-students in my classes. While I don’t do too much group discussions, I try to check in with them at least 2-3 times a week to see how they’re doing.

    As an introverted student, I preferred the one-on-one interaction…which is also why I ended up attending a private art college.

  6. Last day of Winter Break.

    I definitely feel rejuvenated and somewhat refreshed from these 2.5 weeks off, despite getting food poisoning during Xmas…I planned an entire painting/color unit for Art 1 (referencing a lesson I found from the Internet), I also planned a pinch pot lesson and a pinch pot creature/monster lesson for my 3D Design 1 classes. 

    This’ll be the 3rd project for my 3D class where they create something animal-related, which is why I’m opening it up to them to create a monster. I’ve found lots of examples to get them started. I’m also requiring them to add surface decorations and texture.

    I also planned a color quiz and several ceramic vocabulary quizzes…I realized I need to do more “academic” stuff for my 3D class (I didn’t do much for them last semester because I am following another 3D teacher’s curriculum and he hardly does any quizzes/tests). Plus I only had like 3-4 days to plan for the first lesson when I got the job.

    Let’s cross our fingers and hope my ceramic intros this week are successful!!!

  7. I normally do not complain about my students on Tumblr/Facebook because I think it’s unprofessional and lazy, but I swear, some of my students in my 1st period class do not care that their project is due on Wednesday and most of them only have half of it done.

    They’ve had 2 weeks to work on this…it shouldn’t take them longer than 2 weeks. 

    I cannot extend the deadline for this project b/c we only have 2 weeks of the semester left until finals.

    I’m really do not want to give “in-progress” points b/c I feel that will not teach them anything about responsibility or focusing in class. 

    I don’t think this is a classroom management issue either, but my 1st period is made of mostly guys, and some of them tend to waste time when they feel that the project is “too hard.”

    I saw this attitude when I was student-teaching, so I know what it looks like…

    Ugh….I just feel really disappointed in them, and a little disappointed in myself too.

  8. Rubrics…

    I use rubrics in order to assess the student’s finished artwork…Most of them don’t read much of the rubric, just focus on the “high scoring” sections, or barely read any of the criteria.

    Any ideas on engaging ways to review the rubric before handing out to the students to use to grade themselves?

  9. Toothpick Sculptures created by my 3D Design 1 classes

    grades 9-12.

    the lesson’s focus was using line to create form and eye movement.

     this one’s supposed to be a rocket taking off…

     even though this one is simple, it’s actually a great design!

  10. It becomes natural eventually, right?

    I’m trying to incorporate more “checks for understanding” in my project introductions but I sometimes FORGET to do this…I become so involved in what’s going on, that I forget I need to do this.

    I can sense the “squirymess” in my room before my students are released to start working…so I tend to rush when I normally should use “checks for understanding”.

    What are some quick CFUs (checks for understanding) you use in class?

  11. I’m off to a professional development seminar today about Kagan Cooperative Learning! Anyone else use the strategies in their classroom?

  12. A pet peeve about teaching:

    I have a couple students who haven’t attended my classes for about 3-4 weeks…they’re still appearing on the roll sheet so I just mark them absent. Eventually those absences turn into truants if they’re not excused.

    My pet peeve is when these students suddenly appear in class after a ton of truant marks, expecting me to update them about what’s going on and either help them catch up so they can do something in class for the day, or just sit back because they probably know I’m silently pissed-off anyway because I have to take away time to help my students who normally attend class, in order to help those who decide to use my class as babysitting hour.

    Some of these students will show up for one day, and then I won’t see them for a few days. (Luckily, I do not have too many of these, but when I have to enter grades, I am always reminded of them.) And I know these students are missing other classes too, not just mine.

    I’ve e-mailed a few of their parents (and the student), informing them why they currently have an D/F in the class. I am also very strict about attendance…for every 3 truants, their grade is lowered 1/3 of a percentage (and this is in the school’s handbook too).

    Anyone else peeved by situations like this?

About me

I am an artist and art teacher. I post about teaching, art education, crafting, making art, and anything I think is inspirational or cute. users online

Likes